It’s been over five years since Imperial Metals’ Mount Polley mine tailings dam failed, sending millions of cubic metres of water, slurry, sludge and tailings thundering down Hazeltine Creek and into Quesnel Lake.

Along with the anniversary was the five-year deadline for federal Fisheries Act charges that expired Sunday, while the possibility of other charges under the same act remains with no timeline for a decision. British Columbia missed the three-year deadline to proceed with charges under both the province's Environmental Management Act and Mines Act.